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 Happy Halloween! I hope that you all are having a better time than I am. I've got my annual Halloween cold. Blah! My head hurts, my nose is all stuffy, I'm feverish, and I can't even taste the candy that I steal from Mike's bag of treats! In short, I am miserable. Someone pass me the ibuprofen so I can go off somewhere and do this...  
|  It's Time For Sunday Brunch!  Happy Halloween! "Tis the witching hour of night, Orbed is the moon and bright, And the stars they glisten, glisten, Seeming with bright eyes to listen For what listen they?" ~ John Keats ~ 1. What candy are you passing out on Halloween night if you are staying home? Welcome to the Mon Valley. We never have trick-or-treating on Halloween night! Nearly every community has it on a different day. Our town did it on Wednesday night. I did not pass out treats since Mike wanted me to dress up and accompany him on his rounds. I think that he enjoys humiliating his mother. He chose my costume. It made me look like a big fat  Moo! You won't be seeing any pictures this year! 2. What was your best Halloween costume? Back in my days as a skinny, sexy college student I went to all of the Halloween parties dressed as a little black mouse. I got a lot of the other girls angry because their boyfriends all flirted with me when I wore that costume, so I guess it was a good one! Ah! Those were the days... 3. Are you doing anything on the night of Halloween if you are not staying home to pass out treats, and if so, what are you doing? Since the Halloween festivities are already over in our town, I shall be staying home doing the same old same old...  4. What is your favorite Halloween décor? (ie, witch, ghost, pumpkins) Decorating is Michael's department. This is what he came up with this year...  A little bit of everything! 5. Do you carve jack o’lanterns? No. Carved pumpkins rot too quickly. If I decorate using real pumpkins, I paint the faces on them or use stickers.
| Saturday, October 30, 2004
What kind of blogger are you?
| Friday, October 29, 2004
When I went to work yesterday, I was greeted by the ravings of the office lunatic (read "Republican") of how all of the rest of us were a bunch of fools for supporting John Kerry. His ravings were were loud and insulting. Several of us reported his behavior to management, since politics and religion are topics that are supposed to be off limits in our workplace. Unfortunately, management chose to do nothing about this extremely unpleasant situation. Perhaps they are Bush supporters... In anger I stomped out of the office to my car. I retrieved my personal CD player and Scorpions CDs. I stomped back into the office to the cubicle where I sort the mail for my route. I slapped on the headphones and turned the volume up all the way. Ah! Savage Amusement , what blessed relief! I felt the urge to sing along with Klaus, and so I did! "Passion rules the game Yeah, yeah! Oooo... I ain't got no control When my heart's in flames." I hope that I sounded terrible! It was fitting punishment for that idiot to have to listen to me! Tee hee! One of the ladies who works with me told me that she really enjoyed my singing! She said that it was the happiest she had heard me be in ages! The whole incident at the office has put me in the mood to rant politically. Please forgive me. I support John Kerry 100%! My reasons are many, some silly and frivolous, some based on the facts as I see them and quite politically valid. Here they are: Reasons That Lady Starlight Is Voting For John Kerry  1. John Kerry is better looking than George W. Bush. I think that I would prefer to look at him for the next four years! This is one of the silly reasons that I was talking about, I admit it. 2. John Kerry is a Vietnam vet. These guys hold a very special place in my heart. If you're reading this and you are a Vietnam vet, all I have to say is, "I love you!"  It's about time that someone told you guys this! 3. The war in Iraq is unjust. There were no weapons of mass destruction. Who would be better to lead our nation out of such an unjust war than a man who has experienced one first hand? 4. George W. Bush would like to take away the rights of workers to receive overtime pay. I can only receive this for three weeks out of the year under our union's contract with the USPS. It is one of the very few bright spots in the long and difficult Christmas mailing season. I work damned hard for that extra pay. I don't want some spoiled little rich boy taking it away from me. 5. I care about what the other nations in this world think about the U. S. The war in Iraq has caused us to look like a bunch of war mongers to everyone except Great Britain and Poland. (Can't forget Poland!) This must be changed. 6. I feel that George W. Bush's so-called values are a threat to our right to religious freedom. The United States of America not supposed to be a "Christian Nation." Religious freedom encompasses ALL religions and non-religions, not just the Judeo-Christian ones! 7. I support the right of gay people to be married. We are talking about civil unions here! The separation of church and state demands that this be allowed. The living arrangements of gay couples are the same as those of heterosexual couples. They deserve the same rights! 8. George W. Bush supports the death penalty. I do not! Christ was crucified. Isn't that enough to convince you that the death penalty is wrong?! *note* Three very dear members of my family were murdered when I was a little girl. I never had the desire to see the people who were responsible for this put to death. 9. What has W. done to improve the health care situation in this nation? Nothing, nada, zip! It's time for a change! 10. Bush claims to have created jobs in our nation during his term. Such a shame that they all pay minimum wage! I challenge you all to try to feed a family on that measly sum! 11. A final silly reason. I like Theresa Heinz-Kerry. I think that this nation needs a first lady who is not afraid to say what is on her mind, in spades! You go, girl! There you have it, eleven of my reasons for voting for John Kerry. Argue with me all you like, but you're not going to change my mind! In closing, I wopuld like to remind all Kerry supporters to get out and vote on Tuesday, but if you are a Bush supporter, do us all a favor and stay home!
| Thursday, October 28, 2004
"There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you can enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it." ~ Bertrand Russell ~ Welcome to The Thursday Bookworm! This meme is all about books. And like the quote mentioned above, it's all about enjoying them and, in some cases, bragging that we actually managed to finish them. :) So since this is the first week, I'll start out with some general questions about your favorites (and not-so-favorites)! 1. What would you consider your favorite book of all time? Why? (Really sell it to us... make us want to run right out and buy it!!!). I thought long and hard about this question. I have read many great books over the years of both fact and fiction. It is quite difficult to choose a single favorite. After much thought on the subject, I decided that my all time favorite book is one of the very first books that I ever read, Green Eggs And Ham by Dr. Seuss! Go ahead and laugh if you want, but this book is one of the ones that taught me to love reading. Seuss's lyrical rhymes have never lost their appeal to me over the years. His lighthearted style of writing could teach lessons without leaving you feeling that he was preaching at you! I enjoyed reading this book as a child, I enjoyed reading it to my children, and I am quite certain that one day I shall enjoy reading it to my grandchildren. So, let's hear it for Dr. Seuss, the greatest children's author of all time! 2. What would you consider the most heinous, horrible book you've ever read? Tell us why we should NEVER read it. That would have to be My Sweet Audrina by V. C. Andrews! All of those people dying by falling down the stairs, gimme a break! They are all female hemopheliacs, to boot! I could give you the scientific reasons why this is a near impossibility, but it would just bore you. Suffice it to say that there must have been a lot of incest going on in that family, even though in this one instance, Andrews chose not to write about it. Gah! That woman was obsessed with incest. Do yourself a favor, don't read this book! 3. Have you ever started a book and been unable to finish it? Which one, and why? Do you think you'll ever pick it up again? Normally, I thoroughly enjoy the vampire tales of Anne Rice. The exception would be Tale Of The Body Thief. I tried to read it, but it was just so boring that I couldn't finish it. I doubt that I will ever pick it up again. 4. How often do you read a new book? In general, how long does it take you to finish a book (minus those pesky distractions like work, sleep, school, etc.)? It's all a matter of supply and demand. If I manage to happen upon several books of interest at the same time, I may read two or three books in a single week. If there is nothing around that appeals to me, I may go for months without reading. If a particular book is exceptionally good, I tend to become obsessed, reading it every spare minute that I get. An average book takes me about three or four days to finish, unless it is particularly lengthy. 5. Have you ever liked a book so much, you read it again? Hell, yeah! I go to see movies that I like several times, why wouldn't I treat the books that I enjoy in the same manner?!
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Which presidential candidate should you vote for? As if I really needed to take a quiz to know this...
| Wednesday, October 27, 2004
 Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! Wheeee! It's Hump Day again! Hold on to your skivvies, kids, beause today we celebrate BOXER SHORTS Day! Today commemorates the day that the loose fitting underpants were introduced in 1901 though they didn't become wildly popular until the 1930s. World, meet boxer shorts -- boxer shorts, meet world. Let's be different -- let's celebrate something else instead -- something that's very important to Blogdrive Insanity and blogging in general -- the Internet's Birthday. YAY! This Friday, October 29, marks the day in 1969 that two college campuses linked up computers resulting in the birth of the internet as we know it thus enabling the creating of weblogs or 'blogs'. Whew! Thank goodness. Can you imagine a world without blogging? Scary, huh? Let's warm up for today's hump -- using the letters S-U-R-F-I-N-G reveal what rewards the internet and blogging has brought into your life. Surfing and blogging can help to keep my mind off my problems. Useful information can be found much more easily, useless information, too! Reading blogs is fun! Friends, old and new, can be found on the internet. I can peek into your lives through your blogs. You can peek into mine. No one can stop me from speaking my mind in blogland. Getting to know my fellow bloggers is a reward unto itself. Damn, I'm being awfully sappy! I wonder if I'm sick... Are you ready? Let's get Humpified! Today some fun with free association or "I say ___, you think __". Below is a list of words. Respond with the first word, phrase, sentence that comes into your cwazy little heads. Or babble on if you like -- it doesn't matter what you do -- just have a humpin' good time! 1. layer: Seven layer burrito. Taco Bell, anyone?! 2. automatic: Automatic transmission, please. I can't drive a standandard! 3. restless: The natives are getting restless! 4. juggle: What I am always trying to do with my time. 5. powered: I am powered by caffein and nicotine! 5. compliment: I can never get enough of those, as long as they are genuine. 6. spew: My oldest son was a champion at this when he was a baby. 7. castle: Dracula lives in one of those. 8. freckles: Michael has 'em. Hates 'em, too! 9. dough: Cookie dough ice cream 10. style: Love American Style used to be one of my favorite TV shows. 11. bonus: Something that you never get when you work for the USPS! 12. green eggs and ham: I am Sam. Sam I am... This hump has been brought to you by those wild and wacky women at BDI -- If sanity were gasoline, we wouldn't have enough to drive a dinky car around the inside of a Cheerio.
| Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Edited from an e-mail sent to me by The Music Whore You have two cows. If you live in the good ol' U S of A, one of the following is probably true... CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows. DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government. BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, then pours the milk down the drain. AMERICAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself, and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the 2 cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.Your stock goes up. FLORIDA CORPORATION: You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best-looking one. Some of the people who like the brown one best vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of Democrats from out-of-state tell you which is the best-looking one. NEW YORK CORPORATION: You have fifteen million cows. You have to choose which one will be the leader of the herd, so you pick some fat, bossy bitch cow from Arkansas. CALIFORNIAN CORPORATION: You have millions of cows. Most are illegals. Arnold likes the ones with the big udders. BIBLE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You pray and then you pray some more.Now you have two holy cows. On the other hand, if you live in Germany the following is probably true... GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately, they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year. What's this about thirteen weeks of vacation?! That's it! I'm moving. I only get four!
| Monday, October 25, 2004
 Monday Music Mambo Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! This week's mambo is all about Halloween. After all, next Sunday is the day when all the ghosties and goblins come out to play. 1. What are your favorite Halloween songs? I don't know that it's my favorite, but doing this mambo has caused The Monster Mash to go on a mental loop for me! 2. Do you know the words to any of the songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show? (Which ones?) If I had been asked this question twenty odd years ago, I probably could have told you that I knew all of them. My college friends and I used to trek to The Kings Court Theater in Oakland at least once a month for the Rocky Horror Picture Show festivities. Alas, time has dulled my memory to the point that I can only remember some bits and pieces of the songs. 3. The spooky monsters are coming after you. You know that music will soothe each one long enough for you to escape...but each monster requires different music, what do you play for: a: Dracula - Flesh And Blood b: Frankenstein - It's Not Easy Being Green c: The Wolf Man - Who Let The Dogs Out d: The Mummy - Walk Like An Egyptian 4. You've been cursed and turned into a spooky Halloween creature. What creature are you, and what's your theme song? I am a vampire. My theme song would have to be Cheap Trick's I Want You To Want Me , but it would have to be sung with a really bad Transylvanian accent... "I vant you to vant me..." 5. Halloween is a time for creepy movies. What creepy movie has the best music, in your opinion? The most memorable music from a creepy movie would have to be Tubular Bells From The Exorcist. OK, all you ghosts and ghouls out there, this week...bypass the mambo and do the monster mash. Loads of freaky ghoulish hugs from the scariest ladies in blogland.
| 10. One word, guitargasms!  9. His beautiful blue eyes.  8. Despite what the authors of a certain magazine article said, he's one hell of a metal guitarist, far better than Uli Jon Roth!  7. He loves to be silly.  6. He wears interesting scarves!  5. His bandmates are just as pretty as he is!  4. The silly hats that he wears.  3. His gap-toothed grin.  2. He never buttons his shirts.  And the #1 reason to love Matthias Jabs... Tight leather pants! 
| My monster has: Eyes like a clear summer sky. Teeth like the smoker that he is. Hair like a shaggy dog. Face like a silly little boy! But no matter how silly and shaggy my monster is, I love him anyway...Just the way he is! If you haven't guessed it by now, my "monster" is Matthias Jabs!  It's his birthday today. Everyone together now... Happy Birthday, Mati! Or in his native language... Glücklicher Geburtstag! 
| Sunday, October 24, 2004
It's Time For Sunday Brunch! Parents "Parents are often so busy with the physical rearing of children that they miss the glory of parenthood, just as the grandeur of the trees is lost when raking leaves." ~ Marcelene Cox ~ 1. What do your parents do for a living? My parents do what just about everyone who is their age does for a living. They collect Social Security and a couple of pensions! Prior to his complete retirement from the workforce, Dad was employed in the automatics department of the local Corning Glass factory, and later a part time custodian for the Charleroi School District. Mom was never employed outside the home, as is the norm for women her age. 2. How old were your parents when you were born? Gah! I have to do math! Let's see... Mom was twenty-seven when I was born. Dad is eight years older, so he would have been thirty-five. 3. What is the most important lesson that you learned from your parents? There is only one lesson that a hard headed individual such as myself can learn from someone other than herself. Think for yourself. Make your own mistakes, and learn from them! This lesson was, of course, learned from my parents, who found out very early that there is no telling me what to do! 4. What is the harshest discipline that you ever received from your parents? My mom is the queen of guilt! Let us all bow down before her greatness.  There is no punishment, not spanking, grounding, or anything else, that is greater than Mom's ability to bestow guilt upon me. Krikees! That woman can still make me feel guilty about things that I did forty years ago! Just like an elephant, Mom never forgets!  5. What is the thing for which you are the most grateful to your parents? They endured all of my crap! Believe me that is one thing for which I have much gratitude!
| Saturday, October 23, 2004
Naughty Little Impulse  What is your naughty little impulse ever acted upon? Ever wanted to kiss your boss? Do you often feel like telling your mother-in-law that she’s a self-centered, controlling witch—over Thanksgiving Dinner? Do you sometimes feel the compulsion to pick up your man’s dirty socks, which are constantly strewn about the floor irresponsibly, and ball it into his sleeping, snore-opened mouth? Ever wanted to steal something just for the thrill of it? Or is your impulse more along the lines of seducing that hunk from the mail room? Tell us about some naughty impulse you’ve had—or have frequently—and the circumstances surrounding it. Lady Starlight has given in to so many naughty little impulses that she couldn't possibly list them all in one post! What can I say? Self control is not my strong suit! Due to the lack of room, I shall relate to you only the most recent incident. Because of the things which have happened recently, I was forced to call my mother-in-law about some matters regarding insurance coverage. My mother-in-law is a very nice lady. I have nothing against her, but she is a religious fanatic of the fundamentalist Christian kind. ARGH! After we discussed the insurance matters, she proceded to tell me how she was praying, and that Jesus was going to take care of everything. Without much thought, I told her to pray all she wanted, but I was placing my trust in the hands of the doctors. That was a huge mistake. I then got a lecture on how I needed to "find Jesus" if I wanted to get into heaven. Find Jesus? I thought. I wasn't aware that he was lost. I passed on the naughty impulse to tell her that. Instead I went with another. I told her that perhaps I didn't want to go to heaven, a place filled with people who placed their faith in a book of fairy tales written two thousand years ago by not so intelligent human beings. Yes, I was talking about The Bible. This left her flabbergasted, and probably quite certain that I am going straight to Hell. Oh, well. When I get there, I am sure to meet plenty of my friends...  I am quite aware that this was not a very nice thing for me to say, but I just wasn't in the mood to listen to her religious bull crap!
| Friday, October 22, 2004
Was She Watching Over Us?
 Please forgive Lady Starlight for this semi-religious moment, but I am a Catholic, after all, and Mercy Hospital is a Catholic hospital, as is made evident by this statue which is seen outside the main entrance. It kinda got me to thinking... Thinking things that I don't normally think. Perhaps that is what they had in mind when they placed that statue there. Yesterday was one of the most trying days that I've experienced in a very long time, but all was better than expected at the end. The rush hour drive into the city was nothing compared to wait of over six hours in the hospital waiting room. We left only briefly to get some lunch. The chairs in there were ghastly. The soap operas that my sister-in-law chose to watch during the wait were even worse! At about 3:30 PM our wait was over. The surgeon informed us that all went well. They were able to remove all of the tumor and it did not appear to be cancerous. (Insert sigh of relief here.) He also told us that we could actually visit him (the estranged one) in about two hours. To fill the time during this new wait, I took a minor trek into the city with our oldest son, Ray, who had accompanied me for the day. We got some cash from an ATM, since lunch in the hospital caffeteria and the purchase of a puzzle book to fill the time had depleted nearly all of my cash on hand. After that, we trekked on down to Wood Street, where we had "dinner" at Subway. By the time we returned to the hospital the whole two hour wait was over! Although it was a bit disconcerting to see "the estrange one" lying there with all sorts of tubes and wires still connected to him, he looked a lot better than I had expected. He was still a bit groggy, but quite lucid. We spoke briefly before I decided that it was time to go home. I figured that he needed to rest without a bunch of worry worts hovering over him. I know that the road ahead of us may not be easy. Recovery from things such as this never is, and there still is a chance of a set-back. I have also tried to put all thought of the inevitable divorce procedings which will follow his recovery from my mind. For now, I prefer to bask in a feeling of blessed relief. There will be time for all of those other things later. We will all make it through, because perhaps there really is someone watching over us. For that I am thankful...
| Thursday, October 21, 2004
"The estranged one" went back into the hospital yesterday for his first surgery. I went to work as usual, not wanting to have to spend the day with his deranged family. All went better than expected, if they are to be believed. Getting any imformation from them is like pulling teeth. I know that they never liked me, but for crying out loud, he is still my husband and it is my insurance that is paying the bills! I deserve to know something... The second surgery is today. I am not making the same mistake twice. I will be there. I have to be at the hospital at 8:30 AM if I want to see him. Damned right, I'll be there! I'll fight the bloody Pittsburgh rush hour traffic to do it, because right now, every time that I see him I fear that it will be the last, and that brings out all sorts of emotional garbage... Remember what I said a while back? I'd be better off if he were dead. I didn't mean it. Dammit, I want a divorce. I don't want to be his widow! Please, pray for him, my friends. I don't know if I can. God and I are not exactly on speaking terms. I'm pissed at him for giving this to yet another person that I care about. I was watching Law And Order the other day when I heard a quote that summarized fairly well what I believe happened to us. "Love, a terminal condition that is immediately curable by marriage." ~ Lenny Brisco ~ On Sunday night I cornered him (the estranged one) in the car with what I was feeling. It was probably the first time we ever talked openly about what happened between us. I came to a scary conclusion about myself. No matter what has happened or will happen, there is a part of me that will always love him. This is probably why I've never filed for divorce even though I know that things can never work between us. Following this emotionally draining conversation, I held him and kissed him, quite passionately, for the first time in years. (Please, Andrea, don't be sick!) When I looked at him, for a brief moment, I saw the man who I had fallen passionately in love with twenty years ago. This really scared me. I feel the need to list the reasons that I wanted a divorce before this happened in order to keep my head straight. 1. Our attitudes toward life in general are too different. He is a steadfast hunter. I advocate animal rights. He likes to play things safe. I prefer to take chances. The list goes on and on. 2. No matter what he claims, I don't believe that he has ever truly forgiven me for the things that I did during my alcohol addiction. 3. He relies too heavily on me and my job for support. Just once, I would have liked to have felt like he was taking care of me. 4. It seemed to me that there was always something in his life that was more important than me, hunting, bowling, football games... 5. He doen't care what he looks like. Dammit, I know he cleans up nicely, but he prefers to wear ratty old clothes that look like hell. 6. His family and I never got along. I am tired of trying to fit into that circus! 7. I am never going to change, and neither is he! We need to make a break in order to get on with our lives. I think that gets me back into the right mindset... I need to be getting to bed if I am to be up to leave so early in the morning. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep, but I have to try.
| Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! It's Hump Day again -- isn't that electrifying? It should be especially since today is Electricity Day which commemorates Benjamin Franklin's historic kite flight waaaaaay back in 1752. What a shocking discovery! *rolls eyes* Hmmmm, kite, key, storm ... sounds like Ol' Ben could have easily joined our crazy clique. Maybe what they say is true ... "There's a fine line between genius and insanity." Hey! Does that mean we're all borderline geniuses? Woo Hoo! Let's charge our minds with a little pre-humping action -- Tell us about a memorable shocking (or odd, interesting, valuable) discovery. Example: Mom lied. No matter how many goofy faces I make my face will NOT get stuck like that forever. Or -- if you wrap celery in aluminum foil it will stay fresh and crispy for weeks. Or -- Trix really ARE for kids!. You get the point. My dad knows how to flip people off! To undertand why this is such a shocking discovery, you must know my dad. Dad is in his seventies, and although he can cuss with the rest of us when he gets behind the wheel, his vocabulary of naughty words is usually limited to phrases like "son of a bitch" , "simple bastard", and "old fart." Gee, Dad, I guess it takes one to know one on that last one! His use of obscene gestures is even more limited. The worst gesture I had ever seen him use before my astonishing discovery was the four finger salute with the thumb on the nose. Then one day my car broke down, and Dad had to drive me home from work. The roadways were populated with idiots that day. As we reached the top of Cemetary Hill and the end of the passing zone, one of the aforementioned idiots decided to pass Dad and promptly cut him off as the passing lane ended. Up went Dad's middle finger. My face looked something like this:  Here we go -- ladies and gentleman, start your humps. This week, some "getting to know you fun" with a wittle wobble. 1. If you had an off/on switch, what would you want it to switch off/on instantly? My mouth, definitely! My big mouth is always getting me ino trouble... 2. Your favorite celebrity will be knocking on your door in exactly one minute. Considering you only have one minute, what would you do before you answer the door and how would you greet him? Ummm... I seem to remember it being said that is a "family friendly" meme, so it is probably best if I don't tell you. 3. If you could save time in a bottle, what time(s) would you save? I would save all of the times that I spent with the people I love who are no longer with me. Grandpap, Aunt Peggy, Charlotte, Uncle Ray, Cindy, and Judy to name a few. 4. Look around you. First, tell us what room you're in. Now, name the first red thing you see ... likewise blue, and yellow. I guess that you would call the room that I'm in the computer room. I keep little plush toys atop my monitor, one is Clifford the big red dog, another is a yellow duck. There is also a blue kadoate. If you'd like to know what that last one is, visit NeoPets.com 5. If you had a peephole in your head, what might people see when they peep in? 
| Tuesday, October 19, 2004
As Time Goes By
Part II  More than a week has passed since the last picture of this lovely bit of landscape was posted. The leaves on the trees are beginning to change to their glorious array of autumn colors. Soon this scene will be awash in the colors of the changing seasons. Stay tuned for more. Who knows, I may even catch this scene following the season's first snowfall...
| Monday, October 18, 2004
Monday Music Mambo Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! This week, tell us your "Preferences." 1. Do you prefer just audio or video/audio of your favorite songs? Just audio is fine by me. It is music, after all. The audio is what is important! I enjoy a good video, though. I never pass an opportunity to gaze upon loveliness such as this...  I wonder if he can still do that... 2. What do you like to listen to in the car (radio, CD, mp3 playlist...etc)? My collection of Scorpions CD's follows me everywhere that I go! I even bought myself a special adapter so that I could play them in my "creepy little car" that only has a cassette deck. 3. Do you lean more towards a LIVE version of songs or the studio release? The polished perfection of a studio release is nice, but the live versions of songs are much more fun. My favorite is the live version of No One Like You. There is no disguising the fact that The Scorpions are a German band on that one! "There's no one like you I can't wait for the nights with you I imagine the things that we'll do I just vanna be loved by you..." 4. What is your ideal concert venue? Someplace pretty. Definitely indoors with excellent acoustics. No bad seats in the house. No security people who are former KGB agents. Does anyone know of such a venue? 5. What's your favorite format (vinyl, cassette, cd, mp3 etc)? Although the sound quality of CD's is excellent, I miss vinyl albums. Those scratches were not defects. They were signs of  .Bonus: You can only see one concert this year. Who would it be, and where would the concert be?  The Scorpions, in Hannover, Germany so that I can follow them home.  There you have it, you crazy Mamboers! Now go forth and mambo til you can't mambo anymore. Loads of mamboey hugs from the ladies who mamboed right off the short edge of the pier!
| This week's questions are all about computers! Let's play, shall we??? (and let's make it fill-in-the-blanks....) 1. I have reformatted my hard drive one time. With the addition of system restore to Windows, reformatting is only necessary after a total disaster! I've never had to reformat my laptop. Thank goodness, since I don't have a Windows disc for it. 2. I usually reformat my hard drive about zero times a year. Running a system restore will remedy most problems. 3. When I'm working in a document, I save about every five minutes. This is only a guess. I usually save a document after writing a paragraph or two, more frequently if I'm using my laptop on the battery. I've never really timed it. 4. I've upgraded my computer by adding a DVD ROM drive, 128 mb of SD RAM, and Windows XP. I did most of it myself, too! 5. I've got about two or three CD's/floppies with info on them and none of them aren't labeled. I used to have a lot more, not labeled. They all managed to get lost or destroyed, so now I label everything or put it on my handy dandy jump drive. 6. Since I've been using my computer, I find the easiest way to organize my files is to categorize. (Looking for suggestions!!) Folders and subfolders galore! I have a category for everything! If I'm looking for a picture of The Scorpions, I know that it is in My Documents, folder My Pictures, subfolder Scorps! I wouldn't want to lose any of those!  7. I have too many email accounts. I've lost track of most of them. I use my Yahoo! Mail account almost exclusively now. None of the others had a decent spam filter. I hate spam! And I'm not talking about this...  8. Whenever I have a computer-related question, I usually call my brother. When my number turns up on his caller ID, he usually answers by asking what is wrong with my computer! I really should call him more often! 9. I usually use a search engine when looking for images. In case you haven't noticed, I'm all about images! 10. My computer is about four years old. I've upgraded it quite a bit. I have no fear of playing with the innards of my machine, so I have no plans to buy a new one any time in the near future.
| Sunday, October 17, 2004
Perhaps that should read "woman." I'm a bit too old to be called a girl. I am a Party Girl Click on the picture below to read more:  Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com As if you didn't already know!
| It's Time For Sunday Brunch! Furniture "Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house." ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~ 1. What size is your bed? Does it really matter? Any size bed is huge when you sleep in it alone.  2. Do you prefer fabric sofas or leather sofas? What do you have? Leather sofas are pretty, but not very comfortable. I prefer fabric. It seems that my dog does, too!  3. What wood stain color is your favorite? (Pine, walnut, cherry, etc.) I don't like light wood stains very much. I also don't want something that is very dark. A nice medium-toned shade such as maple is what I like the most. 4. What piece of furniture is at the top of your wish list right now? The chairs around my kitchen table are getting quite wobbly. I could use some new ones. 5. Do you have a piece of furniture in your home that doesn’t seem to fit but that you can’t bear to part with? For the record, let me state that I am not into decorating or interior design. Home is a place to eat and sleep. My house is filled with cheap and second hand furnishings and it doesn't bother me one bit. 
| Saturday, October 16, 2004
The Sun Never Shines Over Pittsburgh!
 This shot was taken through the windshield as we emerged from the Liberty Tunnels. It offers further proof that the sun really does never shine in Pittsburgh, at least not when I am there. "The estranged one" came home from the hospital last night, so this trip was purely for pleasure, with the added plus of someone else driving! After the insanity that was this week, I needed some time to stop and smell the flowers. That is exactly what I did today. The trip was to Phipp's Conservatory, home of countless beautiful flowers! I did a bit more photographing than smelling, so be certain to visit Photographs & Memories to see my pictures from the conservatory and of the many other oddities seen on the streets of Pittsburgh, PA! More insanity promises to come in the following week, as "the estranged one" goes back into the hospital for surgery, so I enjoyed this day of respite from the madness...
| Friday, October 15, 2004
Names 1. What's your name spelt backwards? Let's see if I can do this. First and middle names backwards: Harobed Eiram 2. Were you named after anyone, if so whom? My first name is just a name that my mother happened to like, but since at the time I was born all Catholics had to be named after a recognised saint, I was given the middle name Marie after the Virgin Mary. Not a very appropriate choice, considering the sex-obsessed individual that I became! 3. If you had twins would you call them matching names like Bill and Bob? Absolutely no way! I find the practice of naming twins rhyming, aliterated or other sing-songy names disgusting. I also would not dress them alike, another practice which I abhor. 4. What do you call your kids? I call my kids lots of things, but their names are Raymond Scott Jr. and Michael Andrew. 5. What's the weirdest name you've ever come across? I giggle about this one every day. There is a man on my mail route named Richard Dick. Tee Hee! Dick Dick, so nice, they named him twice! The guy is a real character too! Is it any wonder, with a name like that?
| Thursday, October 14, 2004
 Theater Thursday Movie-Going Habits So, you're going to the movies. We know all about which ones you like, which ones you don't like, your criticisms, your raves, your rants.... Eh. Let's get to the real stuff. What are your movie-going habits? 1. Do you go to the movies alone or with friends/family? Do you know exactly what movie you're going to see before you get there, or do you stand for 30 minutes outside the box office trying to decide between Pauly Shore and Meryl Streep? If I want to watch a movie alone, I rent a movie or order pay-per-view. When I go to the theater I want to have someone with me. It's no fun sitting in the theater all by my lonesome! Usually the decision about what we're seeing is made long before leaving for the theater, but there have been occasions when going to the theater has been a last minute thing. I can remember one time when I was with my family and we just couldn't agree. Ray and his dad went to see one movie, while Mike and I went to see another. 2. When you go to the movies, do you usually buy: a) Popcorn? What do you put on it? b) Cokes? What's your favorite? c) Candy? What gets stuck most in your teeth? d) Other (hot dog, nachos, sushi)? It just wouldn't be a proper movie going experience without plenty of lavishly buttered popcorn! And if we're going to eat all of that popcorn, it is an absolute necessity to have some sort of soda to wash it down. Depending on what the theater has on special I will either get a Diet Coke for myself or order a large regular Coke for everyone to share. If the theater's concession special incudes candy, snowcaps are my favorite choice. I seldom get anything that is not included in the special because concession prices are ridiculously high. 3. Do you like it loud and raucous in the theater, or do you immediately stuff crying babies in the nearest waste can? Do you talk back to the screen and interact with the movie, or do you sink way down in your seat and just experience it? I don't mind a little hushed talking during a movie. I've been known to do this myself. But I see no sense in bringing small screaming children who run up and down the aisles or "mentally challenged" people who scream out nonsense incessantly to the theater. I paid good money to see the film and these things are very distracting. Get a babysitter, people! BONUS~ What's your favorite, most memorable movie-going experience? What experience almost or maybe did make you vow never to darken the door of a cineplex again? I can remember going with a bunch of friends to see our very first X-Rated film, Caligula. It was really gross, but we had fun. The worst experience that I ever had in a movie theater occurred when I was just a little girl, not even in school yet. I had put my feet up on the empty seat in front of mine and my ankle slid down and got stuck between the seats. I was terrified. An usher had to come to help get me "unstuck." I bet that my mom wanted to crawl under a rock and hide.
| A Bright Spot In An Unpleasant Place
 This is a fountain seen in one of the many waiting areas of Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. I must admit that it is a very lovely place, for a hospital. Still, I would rather not have anyone, not even "the estranged one" be there. More problems with insurance. Damn us all for misplacing our current cards! I've got to go down there and sort things out. At least I have a couple of current cards on the way. I never really worried about things like this before. I feel overwhelmed. Why did this have to happen? Some say that it is God's will. If that is the case then I am damned mad at him right now, but I really think that it is genetics and nature to blame. The God that I know doesn't sit around somewhere, playing with people and their lives as though they are chess pieces. I believe that we are in control of our lives and that all that any god can do is offer us strength in troubled times. I sure could use some right now. I wonder if he's reading this... Sorry, God, but you did create me to be this smart ass!
| Wednesday, October 13, 2004
 I'm Avoiding The Issues I blog on happily, doing my memes. I play with my NeoPets. I go to Curves in the hopes of becoming thin again. Right now I'll do just about anything to avoid the really pressing issue in my life, which would be what happened to "the estranged one." I got a call late on Sunday night. It was my niece, calling me to tell me that he was in the hospital. He had collapsed in a seizure during dinner at a local restaurant. The doctors had found a brain tumor... Needless to say, I am upset. Our marriage, per se, has been over for a long time, but I have two children with this man. He was once the whole world to me. I can't not feel anything. I'm scared. Due to our lack of a divorce (There is no legal separation in Pennsylvania) I am still financially responsible for him and his medical care. I have medical insurance for him, but I do not know what the copayments are or what is covered. At least it as not as bad as I had expected though. He confessed to me yesterday that our mortgage has been paid in full as well as the loan for his car. That was a shock in itself. I am now driving said car, so that it does not become damaged from a lengthy period of disuse. When I went to pick it up, I made a rather interesting discovery. There was an electric bill among all of the trash collecting in the vehicle. I looked at it, thinking that he had taken it from our mailbox. He had not. It was addressed to some woman named Darla! I presented it to him in his hospital bed and asked who she was. He said that I already knew. "Your girlfriend?" I asked. He answered in the affirmative. Finally, he admitted it! I can handle this. At least it has opened the channels for talk of divorce when this is all over. Still, it was a very odd way to discover what I had known all along. I'm having a John Lennon moment... "Nobody told me there'd be days like these. Nobody told me there'd be days like these. Strange days indeed!"
| Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! Dateline: Wednesday - October 13th Place: Blogdrive Insanity Asylum Event: It's the BDI Wednesday Mind Hump, Baby!!! *BDI staff follows the Hump Hog on to the dance floor* Ready? Sing along or better yet - join us in the Humpty Dance. It's real easy to do--check it out.! ** CUE MUSIC ** "First I limp to the side like my leg was broken Shakin' and twitchin' kinda like I was smokin' Crazy wack funky People say ya look like M.C. Hammer on crack, Humpty That's all right 'cause my body's in motion It's supposed to look like a fit or a convulsion Anyone can play this game This is my dance, y'all, Humpty Hump's my name No two people will do it the same Ya got it down when ya appear to be in pain Humpin', funkin', jumpin', Jig around, shakin' ya rump, And when the dude a chump pump points a finger like a stump Tell him step off, I'm doin' the Hump. Do you know what we're doing? We doing the Humpty Hump!" Whew! What a workout! Instead of warming-up, let's catch our breath with a mini "Getting To Know You" exercise. Tomorrow, October 14th is Monarch Day which marks the day that millions of Monarch Butterflies retrun to Santa Cruz, California. It's truly an amazing spectacle. You are a butterfly. Based on your physical characteristics and your personality combined - what color(s) would your wings be? Instead of telling you about it, I shall show you a picture.  Me as a butterfly. Alrightee then! Ready to do some real humpin'? This week we're having some free assocation fun or "I say ___, you say ___". Just copy and paste the Mind hump on your blog and espond to the word(s) below with the first word, phrase, sentence or crazy thought that comes into your head. 1. shaggy: Scooby Doo and Shaggy, too! 2. biscuit: Biscuits and sausage gravy. Mmmmm... 3. locomotion: "Everybody's doing a brand new dance now. C'mon, baby, do the locomotion!" 4. monkey: Monkey To Man from Elvis Costello's new album 5. plunge: The Nestea Plunge 6. rock: "Here I am. Rock you like a hurricane!" 7. amusement: Savage Amusement, the CD that's in my car stereo at the present time 8. butter: Peanut butter & jelly 9. jacket: Straight jacket. Some folks think that I need one! 10. coaster: Roller coaster. Wheeeee! 11. trailer park: Ridge Road. That is where the trailer park is on my route. 12. buh-buh-buh-Bennie and the Jetssss ....: Elton John, from this album, I believe...  This craziness brought to you by those straight jacketed dames over at BDI who inspired the slogan, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" --
| Tuesday, October 12, 2004
I haven't done this meme for a while, but today's questions are irresistably funny! Silly Questions 1. If olive oil is made out of olives, what is baby oil made out of? Following that line of logic... I don't think that I want to know! 2. If gas stations are open 24/7, why do they have locks on the doors? If you had ever worked at a gas station, you would know that the locks are there to keep the overworked and underpaid employees in! 3. Who really did " let the dogs out "? I confess. It was me. I did it! I let the dogs out!  4. How do you know when you run out of invisible ink? It beats the hell out of me!  5. Why is it called MENstruation? Because WOMANstruation would be too difficult to pronounce! 
| It seems like everyone is taking this one, so I thought I'd have a go at it!  Va-Va-Voom! Your inner Bombshell is Mae West. You've definitely got a lot of wit, a lot of smarts, and you know how to use people to your advantage. Ever heard the phrase "doesn't take any crap from anybody"? Well that's you! Just like Mae you never want to settle down, and can't imagine being with just one man for the rest of your life. You don't care about conventions and have no filter from your brain to you mouth. Check out the movie "She Done Him Wrong" to see your inner bombshell in all her voluptuous glory! Who is your inner bombshell? Brought to you by Quizilla.
| Monday, October 11, 2004
Monday Music Mambo Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! It's all about "YOU!" 1. Name the song you just know was written just about you. Klaus and Matthias conspired to write this one which I just Know is about me! Du Bist So Schmutzig. Dammit, it's in Deutsch, but I can translate a little bit of it. "Du bist so schmutzig, und doch so schön, Oh du meine phantasie!" Translation: You are so dirty and yet so beautiful. Oh, you're my fantasy! Yep, it's about me! 2. What song do you wish that you had written? The world needs more silly happy Christmas songs. I wish that I had written Don't Need A Reindeer, but the honors go to Justin Hayward. 3. What song makes a strong statement with which you agree? That would definitely be The Scorpions' Under The Same Sun. I saw the morning It was shattered by a gun Heard a scream, saw him fall, no one cried I saw a mother She was praying for her son Bring him back, let him live, don't let him die Do you ever ask yourself Is there a heaven in the sky Why can't we get it right 'Cause we all live under the same sun We all walk under the same moon Then why, why can't we live as one I saw the evening Fading shadows one by one We watch the lamb, lay down to the sacrifice I saw the children Children of the son How they wept, how they bled, how they died Do you ever ask yourself Is there a heaven in the sky Why can't we stop the fight 'Cause we all live under the same sun We all walk under the same moon Then why, why can't we live as one Sometimes I think I'm going mad We're losing all we had and no one seems to care But in my heart it doesn't change We've got to rearrange and bring our world some love And does it really matter If there's a heaven up above We sure could use some love 'Cause we all live under the same sun We all walk under the same moon Then why, why can't we live as one 'Cause we all live under the same sky We all look up at the same stars Then why, tell me why can't we live as one. 4. What song best describes the mood you're in now? I guess that would have to be Magic by The Moody Blues. Just like John, I'm in a state of permanent confusion! 5. What is the most annoying song that has ever gotten stuck in your head? In nearly forty-three years of life, I've had LOTS of annoying songs stuck in my head. The list is so long that it would be quite difficult to choose. Most of the songs at the top of the list would be ones from my Girl Scout Leader days. Songs like I Wish I Was A Fishie In The Sea and the likes. What is even more annoying is when one of these songs plays itself halfway through in my head and I discover that I have forgotten some of the words! 6. You are asked to DJ one hour on your favorite radio station. What are some of the bands and/or songs that you would feature in your hour? Me, a D J? What a hoot! For the record, let me state that I once dated a Pittsburgh DJ for several years. The experience taught me to hate radio. So... If I'm gonna be a D J, I must also own the radio station. That being the case, welcome to The Scorpions Hour on WSCP! There you go, mamboers. It's the mambo that's all about you. Now go forth and mambo. Mambo like you really mean it. Mambo like there's no tomorrow. Loads of mamboey hugs from all of us wacked out loons that have mamboed one time too many.
| Name 3 things.... 1....your ideal salad has on it. More than one type of lettuce. Salads made with just iceberg lettuce are boring. Crunchy croutons Lots of salad dressing, the real reason for eating salads! 2....you do religiously in the morning. Take a bath  Drink lots of coffee  Check my email  3....you look forward to doing in your spare time. Blogging. Big surprise there, huh?! Playing with my NeoPets. Writing more to some of the many stories which I have started. 4....you've never done before, but think you will at some point in your life. Go to Germany. See The Scorpions in concert. Make love to Matthias Jabs.  OK, the last one is a longshot, but I'm allowed to dream, aren't I? 5....you love to do while on vacation. Take pictures. Buy souvenirs, t-shirts, postcards, mugs, and such. Get away from the... erm... brats! 6....you took pictures of in the last month. Dogs  Horses  Flowers  7....you have to do before the end of the day. Watch Law And Order. I'm addicted! Listen to The Scorpions. That's a given! Feed the monsters. My cats and dog, Mew, Princess P. P. and Lady. 8....you like about your best friend. She's my sister, she can't escape me! She's beautiful. She looks a lot like me! She can drive in Pittsburgh without having a nervous breakdown, unlike me!
| Sunday, October 10, 2004
Part Three It's been a while since I added to the list and since I've been feeling just a tiny bit annoyed these last few days... Annoying thing #10: Cell phone batteries. Why do they always seem to die when you need the phone the most?! Car broken down in the middle of nowhere, important phone call to be made or received while online, those batteries will be dead every time! Annoying thing #11: People who insist upon voicing their political views at work. This subject is supposed to be taboo for employees of the USPS while at work, but that does not stop the lone republican in our office from ranting on and on about how George W. Bush is such a great Christian leader and how those of us who support Kerry are going against all Christian beliefs. Excuse me, but I wasn't aware that Jesus was taking sides in this election. I could have even sworn that he believed in staying out of political matters from a religious viewpoint. Didn't he say, "Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and unto God what belongs to God"? And isn't religion supposed to be an off limits topic in the office as well? Why doesn't management do something about this? Every time this guy gets on his soap box, I get the urge to do this  or this!  Annoying thing #12: Bigots. If you're going to hate someone, you had damn well have a better reason than the color of her skin. It is my experience that good people come in all sizes, shapes and colors. The same can be said for the bad. Get to know a person before you start hating. You might be pleasantly surprised. Annoying thing #13: Being the bearer of bad news. Something happened to "the estranged one" today and it fell upon me to tell my sons the news. What it was is an entirely different post which I shall cover tomorrow when I know a bit more. Suffice it to say I'm a bit upset, a little bit more scared, and feeling a tad bit guilty. Dammit, I know that I could not have possibly wished this upon him! I really wish that someone else could have told my kids about this... That's enough ranting for now. I think that I shall go off to a corner and worry now.
| It's Time For Sunday Brunch! Disney! "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." ~ Walt Disney ~ 1. What is your favorite Disney movie and why? What animal lover could possibly dislike 101 Dalmatians?  This movie is one of Disney's finest adaptations of a classic children's novel. 2. Who is your favorite Disney character and why? Cruella DeVil is my all time favorite Disney villain.  She's just so evil! I love to hate her. Gotta love that two tone hair, too! 3. What is your favorite Disney song and why? I love all of the music from The Lion King , but I Just Can't Wait To Be King is probably my favorite.  Music by Elton John. Lyrics by Tim Rice. Need I say more? 4. Disneyland or Disneyworld? Why? Neither. As much as I love Disney, I have no desire to go to any of the theme parks. I am a very impatient person, and a smoker. If waiting in all of those long lines didn't drive me to insanity, the ban on smoking would! 5. Do you have any decorations or articles of clothing in your home that are Disney and what are they? I own quite a few shirts featuring my favorite characters, the dalmatians. I think that there are also several different Disney character ornaments on my tree at Christmas. I probably have some other stuff as well. I just can't think of it offhand!
| Saturday, October 09, 2004
As Time Goes By
 This pretty bit of landscape can be seen on my route. I have decided to take several pictures of it as the weeks pass so that everyone can follow the progression of the changing seasons. Stay tuned...
| Friday, October 08, 2004
There is nothing in this world worse than a bad case of boredom, I think. I find myself afflicted by this condition at the current time. I've done all that my poor tired brain will allow, but still I feel bored. Oh, the misery. I am reduced to doing things like taking random pointless quizzes like this one!  You're going to let it be known that you are a sexual being. Some people may be offended by what you do, some will be amused, and some will be turned on. In the future, you will mysteriously acquire a British accent. What band from the 80s are you? brought to you by Quizilla. At least the results were interesting. I'm not certain about their accuracy, though. Perhaps I should just go back to listing the things that annoy me. That is always fun.
| Thursday, October 07, 2004
 Theater Thursday Football Films Friday Night Lights opens this weekend in theaters. So this week it's all about Football. 1. What's your favorite football movie? I loved the 1978 version of Heaven Can Wait in which Warren Beatty plays an LA Rams quarterback whose guardian angel removes him from this life a bit too soon. As a consolation he is put into another man's body which he struggles to make into what his original once was. A bit sappy, but cute. 2. Do you think films accurately portray foootball players? I doubt it. Movies are about entertainment, not accuracy. The real livves of most football players are probably just as boring and mundane as our own. 3. What football movie was so bad, so far fetched, so poorly acted, or so over dramatized that it was painful to watch? I've only seen a couple of football movies, and neither one of them was bad. Perhaps I should broaden my horizons... BONUS~ If you were making a football film, what actor would you want to portray your star quarterback? The coach? I think that it would be fun to cast some young buff unknown as the quarterback, but the coach would absolutely have to be played by Craig T Nelson! 
| Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! This Hump Day we celebrate adventure, intrigue and romance. No, we're not talking about blog drama -- we're talking Soap Opera Day! October 6th marks the premiere of the first soap opera in 1946, The Faraway Hill. Let's all raise our box of bon-bons and say hip-hip-hooray for 58 years of the best escape from vacuuming, laundry and all other forms of domestic drudgery ... that is until blogging came along. And speaking of blogging .... let's warm up for some Wednesday Mind Humpin' ! In soap opera, everyone's "entrance" into a scene is accompanied by a song or sound effect -- If music or a sound effect played whenever you walked into a room, what would that sound effect be? It should be obvious that I'd want the music played upon my entrance to be something by The Scorpions.  The real question is, which song? Passion Rules The Game would be a good choice, I think. Put your thinkin' caps on -- it's time to do the Mind Hump. This week a little "getting to know you" fun with a crazy twist. 1. If you could have a compartment (like a glove compartment) installed on your person, where would you have it installed and what would you keep in it (other than things you would keep in your wallet or purse)? I want to have my compartment installed in my tush! This way when someone gets mad and tells me to shove something up my arse, I can open my compartment and do exactly as he wishes without causing myself any pain! 2. A local university has asked you to teach a class about the one thing you know the most about. What would you be teaching and what would the name of the course be? I know a little bit about everything and a lot about nothing! My mind is a storehouse of useless knowledge. This causes some people to think that I know a lot more than I really do. This would qualify me to teach the course Elementary Bullshitting 101: A Guide For Beginners. 3. Commercials ... they can make us laugh or can annoy the heck out of us. Tell us about your favorite commerical and/or a commercial you simple loathe. Eat 'n Park, a local restaurant chain in the Pittsburgh area, shows a lovely ad every year at Christmastime. In it, a little star (Sparkle) tries to get to the top of the Christmas tree, but cannot. The tree bends over so that he can take his place at the top. The tree then straightens, lights, and sends out Christmas wishes to everyone from the folks at Eat 'n Park! 4. If we were to tiptoe into your room while you were sleeping, what position are we likely to find you in, on what side of the bed and are you a snorer, drooler, a sleep talker or sleep walker? How the heck am I supposed to know what I do when I'm sleeping?! I'm asleep for crying out loud! 5. "Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails - that's what little boys are made of. Sugar and spice and everything nice - that's what little girls are made of." Besides those things mentioned above, what are some of things you personally might be made of? No sugar Some spice Just a little bit nice Sports cars Dreams in jars And lots of guitars... That's what Lady Starlight is made of! Until next week ...peace and humptiness forever from us flipped out females who have bats in our belfry.
| Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Autumn Has Arrived!
 If Halloween displays like this one don't remind me that autumn has arrived, the ice on my windshield in the morning will! Brrrr... It's cold outside, inside, too! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the beauty of nature as the seasons change. It is the cold weather ahead that troubles me. I am a cold blooded sort of person. When the temperature drops below 70 degrees, I find it difficult to do much more than shiver. So, I sit here at my computer wearing flannel jammies and a warm fuzzy robe, still shivering. Welcome, autumn! I am already counting the days until next summer.
| Monday, October 04, 2004
I found this little tidbit on Khali's Blog and I just had to get some names for mine!
| Monday Music Mambo Brought to you by the ladies at Blogdrive Insanity! Hey Mambo! Mambo Italiano! The theme, you ask. RELAXATION! 1. How does music help you to relax? Music can be relaxing in many ways. A loud angry metal song can help relieve the tension of my own anger. A song with silly lyrics can bring a smile when I'm feeling blue. A sexy love song can get me in the mood... 2. What song has been most therapeutic for you (if any): I am one of those people who gets very stressed and depressed at Christmastime. I think that it has something to do with my job. Listening to most Christmas music just makes it worse, but Don't Need A Reindeer by The Moody Blues can always pull me out of the Christmas blahs. Thank-you, Justin! 3. You are stressing out and you need something to calm you down. What cd do you reach for first? That would definitely be The Scorpions' Eye II Eye . There are plenty of silly songs on that one to make me smile. To Be No. 1, Priscilla, and Freshly Squeezed to name a few. 4. What is the music of your... a. heart - "It's deep and dark, deep down in my heart..." ~ Lyrics from Deep And Dark ~ b. soul - "I do believe you're still around me, still around me all the time. I have no doubt one day in heaven I will see you again..." ~ Lyrics from Eye To Eye ~ c. inner child - "Moment of glory called evolution. Could I see the world with the eyes of a child..." ~ Lyrics from Moment Of Glory ~ 5. If you could have one musican or band sing you a lullaby, what band would it be and what song would they sing to you? Silly, silly question! I want The Scorpions to sing me that lullaby, of course.  I don't care what song they sing, as long as I have these two guys in my bedroom! 
| Actually, it's time for a coffee quiz. Since I have often been accused of having pure coffee running through my veins, when I happened upon a quiz to find out what type of coffee I am, I just had to take it! The results are in!  You're a Cafe Mocha! What Kind of Coffee are You? brought to you by Quizilla
| Since in this part of the world, we are in the midst of changing seasons, I was inspired to ask the following....... Using the letters in the word 'AUTUMN' describe your favorite season. Allow me to start this out by saying that my favorite season is not autumn, but summer!  A great time of year to visit the beach. Usually there are plenty of sunny days. There is a lot less mail to deliver in the summertime. Unfortunately, the summer season does not last the whole year. Monday holidays are plentiful in the summertime. Neverending summer is what I'd like!
| Sunday, October 03, 2004
It's Time For Sunday Brunch! Horses "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" ~ William Shakespeare ~ 1. Have you ever ridden a horse? When I was younger I used to go riding with a friend of mine. We would rent a couple of horses at a riding stable called The Horse Emporium. Unfortunately the stable closed quite a few years ago and I haven't been riding since then. 2. What is your favorite horse story or movie? C J Cherryh wrote a series of science fiction novels about a planet where horses formed a sort of psychological bond with owners of their own choosing. The stories were quite fascinating, but it has been a while since I read them. I can't remember what the series was called. 3. If you had the means, would you own a horse? I love all animals, horses included. I think that it would be great to own one. This particular stallion is a favorite of mine.  He frequently waits by the fence for me when I am working. His owners have noticed how well we get along and once offered him to me as a Christmas gift. I could not accept because I live in a residential area. 4. Do you think it would be neat if we went back to everyone traveling by horse and buggy or just an inconvenience? I am certain that some aspects of it would be great, less pollution, always having a living companion to keep you company on your way, etc., but for the most part it would slow travel and be a major inconvenience. 5. Have you ever ridden in a hansom cab? One of the highlights of my trip to Spain in 1980 was a tour of Sevilla taken in a hansom cab.
| Saturday, October 02, 2004
And guess where I wasn't! If you guessed that I wasn't at work, you win the prize! How could this be? Do I not work six days a week? This is still true, unfortunately, but due to the fact that I finally have a sub to call my own, I was able to take today off from work. It only took them six and a half years to find one for me, so today I decided to see how the other half lives. You know, those lucky people who actually get Saturdays off on a regular basis. In celebration of this momentous occasion, my sister and I decided to head to the south side of Pittsburgh for an eating tour. We made many stops, but I shall concentrate on only one, the coolest bar in Pittsburgh, The Tiki Lounge! The decor of this place is something you would have expected to see in the episode of The Brady Bunch where they went to Hawaii. A huge Tiki Man statue greets you as you walk in the door. Get yourself a drink and have a seat at a table lit by a Tiki Man lamp.  When nature calls, head down the stairs to the restrooms.  Look! There's a fountain behind the staircase!  This is the base of the fountain, just outside the restroom doors. Tee hee! No diving! I guess that maybe they had some problems with people who had to much to drink! The island decor extended to the restrooms where the sinks were shaped like seashells. If you're in Pittsburgh and feeling thirsty, this is the one place that you should definitely not pass up. Even if you're not, stop there anyway. It is a truly fun place to be! |
